Spectrograph



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SPECTROGRAPH Filed Dec. 9, 1943 L SheetS-Shee l .Sonaca @F {./GH-r mL/f @am c @wbss THERM@ c@ @ms RECOQ-DER @ci 3U, w- J. A. wlLsoN 273%305 SPECTROGRAPH v Filed Deo. 9, 194.5 4 sheets-sheet 2 T@ ,vf-m505# PEN J. A. WIILSN @si E@ m4@ SPECTROGRAPH Filed Dec. 9, 1945 '-2 @wm @Lg Patented Oct., 3 0, `1945 SPECTROGRAPH James A. Wilson, Linden, N. J., assignor to Standard Oil Development Company, a corporation of Delaware Application December 9', 1943, serial No. 513,565

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an automatic recording device, and more particularly relates to means for placing fiduciary marks on a curve being recorded by such a recording device.

Various types of devices are known to the art for automatically and continuously recording values on a chart as a curve. Such devices are useful in the control of industrial processes. In this manner, such variables as concentration, temperature, pressure, etc. are easily recorded. Generally such variables are recorded as a function of time. However, it often becomes necessary to relate these or any other two variables to a third variable. Heretofore this has been a diiiicult operation, and it is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide means for placing a mark on a curve being recorded by an automatic recording device which will directly relate the other two variables to a third variable.

The present invention has been found particularly useful in connection with a device for recording the ratio of light intensity emitted or absorbed by various substances. These data are usually recorded as voptical density against time. In such an operation it is often desirable that the change in optical density with wavelength be recorded. However, it has not been found possible to record three `such variables simultaneously. Consequently it is another object of this invention to provide means for placing wavelength marks on an optical density time curve being recorded'by an automatic recording device.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from the following specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 isa plan view showing the instrumental'arrangement; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the system for controlling the wavelength of the radiation usedin a recording spectrograph; Figure 3.ls a schematic view of the system for putting fiduciary marks on the recorded spectrum; Figure-Aris a diagrammatic view of the entire instrument showing o the details of the monochromator and Figure 5 is a detailed view of the self-balancing potentiometer.

The invention will now be described in connection with a' method for recording the optical den sity of a substance. 1

Referring to Figure 1,Y the light from a source l such as va Nernst glower is divided into -two beams and passed through two separate absorption cells 2-A land 2-B, one of which contains the sample and the other is a blank or 'standard cell used to compensate for reection and other losses in the sample cell. The two beams fall on different parts of the entrance slit of monochromator 3, passing through the same prism by means of which the respective rays are broken up into their component wavelengths. These resolved rays are then separately focused on separate parts of the exit slit of the monochromator and emerge from it as distinct beams. The two beams have intensities proportional to the amount of light incident on the absorption cell an'd transmitted through it, respectively. As each beam emerges from the monochromator, it is picked up by thermocouples 4-A and- 4-B, respectively, and the resulting voltages are separately amplified photo-electrically by amplification systems 5-A and 5B, respectively, until the resulting currents are large enough to operate a recorder 6.

The recorder used is a self-balancing potentiometric type in which. a self-balancing potenti-V ometer 1 continuously compares the voltage drop produced by the amplified current in the circuit containing the sample with a similar voltage produced by the current in the standard circuit.

Referring now to Figure 5 the amplied current from the standard circuit 5-B is conducted by leads 43 to a fixed resistor 44 having a sliding contact 8, while the current developed in the amplification circuit 5-A containing the sample is conducted by leads 45 to fixed resistor 46. Resistors 44 and 46 are connected directly at one end. The other end of resistor 46 is connected in series with a microphone shown generally at 48 which in turn is driven by `a 60 cycle armature 49. The modulated current thus produced is applied to the grids of push-pull rectifiers 50. The plates of these tubes are supplied from the same source as the modulated armature and, therefore, have the same phase. 'The plate currents of the rectifiers drive a split-field reversing motor 41 which drives the potentiometer slide wire 8 for balancing the current from the two thermocouples, This contact is mechanically connected by means (not shown) to pen 9, which inscribes a line upon a chart in recorder 6. The finished chart is made to read directly in optical densities by use of microphotometer paper since the movement of recording pointer 9 is a direct function of the movement of sliding contact 8 which is in turn a function of the variation of the voltage drop produced by the amplied current in the circuit containing the sample with the voltage produced in the control circuit which voltages are in turn proportional to the amount of transmitted and incident light, respectively. The optical densities are plotted on the chart against time. However, by means ofthe device shown in Figures 2 and 3 wavelength marks can be inscribed directly on the resulting curve.

The path of the light beam through the monochromator is shown in Figure 4. For thel sake of simplicity and` clarity only one path will beshown since the path of the two beams is identical in this projection and passes Ithrough the same prism, the onlydiierence being that the two beams follow one above the other on dierent parts of the entrance slit of the spectrometer.

Referring, therefore. to Figure 4 radiation from source I is passed into cells 2 through halite window 2l and out through halite window 2B and is then introduced into monochromator 3,

through an adjustable sur 2e. man the sut 2c the rays are directed onto an aled mirror 30, parabolized od its axis which in turn reects them to a 60 disperslng prism ll through which they are retracted to a pivoted-mirror f I which in turn reects them back to the prism Il from which they are refracted back to mirror 30 which reflects them to mirror t! and thence through an adjustable slit 32. In passing through prism II the rays-arey broken up into their component vwave lengths andl only a narrow beam is allowed to pass through slit t2. However, by

moving mirror i0 back and forth through a narrow arc the beam passing through slit 32 can be continuously changed. The means for accomplishing this will be described in detail below in connection with Figure 2. The rays emerging from slitl 32 are focused on thermocouples d and ampliiled 'by means of amplier t and recorded on potentiometer recorder 'I as described below.

Referring more particularly to Figures 2 and 3,

a shaft I2 rotated by any suitable means, such as a synchronous motor, is provided with screw threads i3 carrying traveling nut I4 which moves along guide I5. Attached to traveling nut I4 is knife edge I6 across which is laid lever I'I'. This lever is held under tension by means of spring I8 and carries mirror i@ pivoted at i9 which reflects the light; from collimating prism II in monochromator 3. Shaft I2 also carries drum 20 and toothed wheel 2 I. In' contact with toothed wheel 2i is pawl 22 attached to a single pole;

double throw switch 23 which is part of an electric circuit attached to the recording mechanism of recorder t at 2t. Included within this circuit is battery 25 and condenser 26. lSwitch 23 is at alltimes directly connected to condenser 26 and is adapted to make or break the circuit between the battery and the condenser.

When shaft I2 is rotated, traveling nut It is moved along threads i3 and guide I5 causing lever'Il to slide along knife edge I 6 and move mirror I through a small arc at .pivot I9. This motion of the mirror causes the band of radiation passing through prism I i to be scanned over the exit slit of the monochromator. By inscribthrown upward'short circuiting condenser 26 and;

opening the connection to battery 25. Asthe toothed wheel 2| turns, pawl 22 falls from the top of a toothto the bottom, thereby changing the position of switch 23. The short circuit is broken and condenser 28 is connected to battery 25 permitting a transient current to ow through the recorder into condenser 26. This current gives the recorder a brief impulse that is indicated by a sudden excursion of the recorder pen. Since the current is only transient *he pen returns immediately to its original position. When the Vnotched wheel 2i turns further, the pawl 22 is lifted, throwing the switch 23 back to its orig nal position. The condenser 26 is then short circuited and discharged with the connection between battery 25 and condenser 26 open, preventing any impulse from reaching the recorder. The individual teeth on the toothed wheel 2i are set sumciently apart so that each represents a convenient interval and thus each make of the circuit by the action of the toothed wheel 2l on the pawl 22 results in a ilduciary mark being made on the spectrum curve at a known wavel length. I n this manner, the motion of shaft I2 co-ordinates the band being scanned with the iiduciary marks made on the curve inscribed by the recorder.V

While this invention has beendescribedin connection lwith inscribing Wave length marks on a recorded spectrum, as. pointed out above the application of the invention is vmuch broader and it can be `used wherever it is desired to correlate a third variable with twor other variables being recorded by any suitable recording device.

The nature and objects of the present invention having thus been describedand illustrated, what is claimed as new and useful and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A spectrograph comprising means for re- -cording the spectra of substances as a curve,

means for continually changing the wavelength of the spectra being recorded, and means responsive to the said wavelength changing means for` placing a wavelength mark on said curve.

y 2. A spectrograph comprising means for lisolating a desired band of radiation, means for changing the wavelength of said isolated band,

means for recording the spectra of said isolated band as acurve, and means responsive to said wavelength changing means for placing a wavelength mark on said curve.

3. An instrument for automatically recording the spectra of substances comprising, in combination, means for scanning a desired spectral range, means for continually drawing a curve in which optical density is plotted against time, and means responsive to said scanning means for placing a wavelength mark on said curve.

4. An instrument for automatically recording the spectra of substances comprising in combination means for scanning a desired spectral range, means for continually drawing a curve in which optical density is plotted against time, and means j cooperating with the two foregoing. means for placing a wavelength mark on Vsaid curve.

. 5. 'I'he combination with a recording spectov' graph provided with a pen in which the ratio ofthe intensity of two beams of radiation passing v through separate absorption cells is recorded by the pen in the form of a curve as a function of time, means for scanning each of said beams of radiation over a definite wavelength band, and means responsive to said scanning means to cause said pen to periodically place a duciary mark upon the curve being transcribed.

6. The combination with a recording spectograph including a recorder provided with a pen in which the ratio of the intensity of two beams of radiation passing through separate absorption assaios cells is recorded by the pen in the form of a curve as a function of time, and means for scanning each of said beams through a definite wavelength band, of an electric circuit connected'to said recorder containing a source of direct current and a condenser in series, a switch in said circuit between said source of current and said condenser, a bypass from said switch over said condenser, and means cooperating with said switch and responsive to said scanning means for causing a transient current to now through said circuit whereby said pen is caused to periodically place a duciary mark upon the curve being transcribed.

'1. The combination with a recording spectegraph including a recorder provided with a pen in which two beams of radiation are passed in parallel through separate absorption cells and then simultaneously through the samel mono-A chromator having an exit slit and containing a prism and a pivotable mirror for scanning said beam over the exit slit of said monochromator in which the relative density oi' the two beams is recorded by the pen inthe form of a curve as a function of time, of a rotating shaft, means attached to said shaft for moving said mirror through a small arc, a toothed wheel on said shaft, a pawl riding on said wheel, and means a responsive to said pawl and connected to said pen to cause said pen to inscribe a fiduciary mark upon the curve being transcribed.

8. The combination with an automatic recorder provided with a pen for transcribing a set ot' values in the form of a curve, of a rotating shaft, a toothed wheel on said shaft, a pawl riding on said-wheel, an electric circuit connected to said whereby said switch is periodically operated to cause a transient current to pass through said recorder and cause said pen to periodically place a nduclary mark upon the curve being transscribed.

9. The combination with a recording specto- I graph including a recorder provided with a pen `in which two'beams of radiation are passed in parallel through separate absorption cells .and then simultaneously through the same monochromator having an exit slit and containing a prism and a pivotable mirror for scanning said beam over the exit slit of said monochromator in which the relative intensity of the two beams is recorded by the pen in the form of a curve as a function o! time, of a rotating shaft, means at,- tached to said shaft for moving said mirror through a small arc, a toothed wheel on said shaft, a pawl riding on said wheel, an electric circuit connected to said recorder and containing a source of direct current and a condenser in series, a switch in said circuit between said source of current and said condenser, said switch being responsive to said pawl as said pawl rides on said toothed wheel whereby said switch is periodically operated to cause a transient current to pass through said recorder and cause said pen to periodically place' a duciary mark upon the curve being transcribed.

, JAMES A.. WILSON. 

